Suction cleaner



1933- D. VAN MALDEGHEM ET AL 1,929,332

SUCTION CLEANER Filed Oct. 5, 1931 fig \45 INVENTORS flav Van Mal aey he BY ATTORNE atented ot. 19, 1933 iil'l'EB STATES SUCTEON @liEANERApplication October 5, 1931. Serial No. 566,858

3 Claims.

The invention relates to cleaners of the suction type and has for itsmain object to provide a device means of which feathers, cotton, s andot materials employed for filling or I long mattresses, pillows,cushions, quilts and ot er articles, may be readily and speedily removedthe surface of such articles after they have filled or stuffed. Anotherobject is to provide use us for the expedient collection and rethesubstances removed. A further obto so construct the brushes employed inthe macl h that any substance adhering to them may y removed. A stillfurther object is to e a macline of and inexpensive conon, which willoccupy but small floor space, es no skill to operate, and which can verylow cost.

stood from the followi g descripand from the accompanying drawing of arred embodiment in which, however, modiay be made without departing frome appended ol In the drawing r nt elevation of the preferred emiecleaner with a certain part shown away to expose the interior,

' a side elevation,

cross-sectional side elevation taken the scope now to all the views,simultaneously, ine consists of a pair of side frames ich are spacedapart and connected by l3, l4 and 15. The general contour of 3 frames isplainly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, so also the locations of the tubes. Thefront sides of upper ends of the frames are curved and to these parts acurved plate is secured. It is provided with a rectangular opening 17,as shown, across which a plurality of rods 18 are placed.

The lower cross member 19, of the side frame 10, is provided with avertical socket in which a bar 20 is clamped by a set screw 21. Aplatform 22 is provided at the upper end of the bar and on this anelectric motor 23 is securely bolted. The motor drives a suction fan 24which is preferably suspended from the tubes 12 and 13 by means ofbosses 26, but may, of course, be constructed and supported in any othersuitable manner. The air-intake opening 27 of the fan is located insideone end of a receptacle 28, while the airoutlet 29 is turned towards therear of the machine. A chute 30 extends upwardly from the other objectsand advantages will be receptacle 28 and its upper end is connected withthe plate 16 so that the fan will draw air through the openin 17. Thechute is of the same width as the openi A pulley 3]. is mounted on themotor shaft which, by means of a belt 32 and another pulley 38, drives ashaft 34 on which. rotary brush 35 is removably mounted. We prefer tosupport the shaft 34 in a pair of bearings 36 which are placed onopposite sides of the chute and to provide means on these bearings sothat they may be moved forward to compensate for any wear on the brush.The brush islocated within the chute and adjacent to the opening 1? sothat its hairs project slightly through the opening. its location isplainly shown. in Fig. 3. A door 37 is provided in the receptacle forcleaning purposes.

The pulley 33 is preferably mounted to rotate on the shaft 3% if thebrush should accidentally catch in the material operated on. A frictionclutch 38, of any standard spring-actuated type is pinned to the shaftand exerts sufficient friction against the pulley to drive the shaftunder ordinary conditions. A stationary shaft 39 is mounted below theopening 17 and on this shaft a plurality of flexible beater-s .0 aresecured. Another shaft 41 is rotatingly mounted above the opening 17.

It rotates in bearings 42 which are located on opposite sides of thechute and is provided with a plurality of catches 4E3 hich engage withthe ends of the heaters. This shaft is driven from the shaft 34 by meansof any suitable train of gears such, for example, as shown at 44: and itrotates at a much lover speed than the brush shaft.

The machine operates in the following manner:

It is well known that a pillow, mattress orother article after beingfilled or stuffed will have particles of the filling material adheringto its outer side which must be removed. When the motor 23 is startedthe fan creates a suction through the opening 17 and if new a pillow, orother article, covered with particles of the filling material is placedupon the plate or table 16, the part covering the opening will be freedof these particles by the suction through this opening. By moving thearticle in front of the opening it is evident that it may be entirelycleaned.

As certain filling materials adhere more tenaciously than others, thebrush 35 is provided. The brush loosens the particles which are thenreadily carried off by the suction. The rods 18 prevent the article frombeing drawn too far into the opening. The particles removed are drawndown through the chute and into the receptacle 10 from whence they aredrawn through the fan. Bags may be attached to the air outlet 29 forcollecting the particles removed.

To increase the speed with which an article may be cleaned, the heatersl are provided. These heaters, which are normally straight, are engagedby the catches d3 so that their ends are drawn bacl: and released, asplainly shown in Fig. 3 where the dotted position shows a beater afterit is released. lhe heaters are interposed between the tufts of hair inthe brush so as not to interfere with these. As the heaters apply rapidblows to the article operated on, the particles adhering thereto areloosened and so readily removed.

As some of the filling materials used, particularly if consisting oflong fibres, have a tendency to twine around the brush and work downtowards the brush body to stick firmly there, a plurality of grooves aremilled in the brush body, asshown in Fig. i. To remove this adheringmaterial a sharp knife is run lengthwise of t -e grooves to cut it,after which it is easily removed. While a brush having four straightrows of hairs has been illustrated, it will be under stood that brushesof other constructions are employed according to the material operatedon. The brushes are therefore made interchangeable.

The foregoing will show that the device is very simple in itsconstruction and that no special skill is required to operate it. Whilethe machine has been described for use on filled or stuffed material orarticles, it is evident that it may he used on many other articles. Forthis reason we do not wish to limit the invention to any particular useonly.

Having described our invention and its operation, what we claim and wishto protect by Letter 5 Patent is:

1. In a suction cleaner of the class described; a frame structure; aplate located the upper part of the frame structure for supporting thearticles to be cleaned; an aperture formed said plate; a duct leadingfrom said aperture; a rotary 3 brush located within said duct, adjacentto said aperture, for brushing the articles passed over the a erture;the bristles of said brush arranged in spaced, cylindrical rows; aplurality of 6,5331% heaters also located within said duct, transverselywith and in close proximity to said aperture, for beating the articlespassed over the aperture; said heaters interposed between the 1' vs ofbristles of the brush; one end of each of said heaters secured to astationary shaft located substantially behind one edge of the aperture;a rotating shaft located behind the opposite edge of the aperture; aplurality of catches secured on said rotating shaft; the free ends ofaid heaters engaged and flexed by said catches; an exhaust fan connectedwith the duct; and means for actuating said rotary brush, said rotaryshaft, and said fan.

2. In a suction cleaner of the class described; a frame structure; aplate located at the upper part of the frame structure for supportingthe articles to be cleaned; an aperture formed in said plate; aplurality of spaced bars secured across said aperture; a duct leadingfrom said aperture; a rotary brush located within said duct, adjacent tosaid aperture, for brushing the articles passed over the aperture; thebristles of said brush arranged in spaced, cylindrical rows; a pluralityof flexible heaters also located within said duct, transversely with andin close proximity to said aperture, for heating the articles passedover the aperture; said heaters and said bars alternately interposedbetween the rows of bristles of the brush; one end of each of saidheaters secured to a stationary sh. ft located substantially behind oneedge of the aperture; a rotating shaft located the opposite edge of theaperture; a plurality of catches secured on said 100 rotating shaft; thefree ends of said heaters engaged and flexed by said catches; an exhaustfan connected with the duct; and means for actuating said rotary blush,said rotary shaft, and said fan.

3. In a suction cleaner of the class described; 1:35 a frame structure;plate located at the upper part of the frame structure for supportingthe articles to be 01s.. -ed; an aperture formed in said plate; aplurality of spaced bars secured across said aperture; a duct leadingfrom said aperture; a rotary brush located within said duct, adjacent tosaid aperture, for brushing the articles passed over the aperture; thebristles of said brush arranged in spaced. cylindrical rows; a pluralityof flexible heaters also located'within said duct, 11 transversely withand in close proximity to said aperture, for beating the articles passedover the aperture; said heaters and said pars alternately interposedbetween the rows of bristles of the brush; one end of each of saidheaters secured to a stationary shaft located substantially behind oneedge of the aperture; a rotating shaft located behind the opposite edgeof the aperture; a plurality of catches secured on said rotating shaft;the free ends of said boaters engaged and flexed by said catches; anexhaust fan connected with the duct; friction clutch controlled meansfor actuating said rotary brush and said rotary shaft; and means forrotating the fan.

DAVID VAN li/IALDEGHEM. WILLIAME J. OLLINGER.

